The Forty Questions of the Soul

54. And in the spirit is the moving of the power, and the multiphcation without ground and number, wherein consisteth an eternal bottomless multitude, and all in power.

55. For that which hath no ground, hath no number, nor is there * any shutting up or comprehension therein, and that which is within itself, cannot be known

5 externally, but it may be felt by the spirit: Thus the internal f driveth out from itself, and manifesteth itself in figures, or else God could not be known.

iGUT.

p. 2

3 The Tau or Cross.

4 Schwerigkeit, oft Breetheit guere.

5 Or without, ctb extra.

* "any shutting up or comprehension" (kein Aufhalten oder Fassen noch Einsperren), "any stopping or holding or shutting in."

t "driveth out" (treibet aus sich), "works itself out," or "issues forth."

56. Thus God is together one spirit; and is from eternity in three beginnings and ends, and that only in himself: There is no place found in his sight; and he hath nothing in himself that may be compared to him; also there is nothing which can search and manifest anything further than his spirit; which always manifesteth itself from eternity to eternity.

57. He is an eternal seeker and finder of himself in the great wonders; and that which he findeth, he findeth in the power: He is the opener of the power: Nothing is like him, neither doth anything find him, but that which yieldeth itself to be his own, that entereth into him: That which denieth itself to be, in that thing the spirit of God is all things; for it is one only will in the eternal nothing; and yet it is in all things as God's spirit itself is.

58. And this, my beloved Friend, is the highest Mystery: Therefore if you would find it, seek it not in me, but in yourself, though not in your reason either, which must be as dead, and *your desire and will must be in God: And so God becometh the will and the deed in you: also the spirit of God bringeth your will into himself, and then you may well see what God is, and what spirit's child this hand is, and from what kind of spirit it writeth.

* "your desire and will" (euer begehrender Wille), "your desiring will." The idea is that of oneness of will and desire.

59. Furthermore, I brotherly exhort you, *that you seek not with such eagerness, you will not reach the bottom of it with such searching, although you are known and beloved of God; and therefore we give you this ffor a rule; yet externally I have no power to give it you.

60. But follow my counsel, leave off your laborious searching in reason, and enter into the will of God, into God's spirit, and cast outward reason away, and then your will is God's will, and God's spirit will seek you within you.

61. And if he findeth your will in him, then he manifesteth himself in your will, as in his own propriety. For if you quit that will, then it is his, who is all things: and when he moveth, go you with him, for you have divine power; and then whatsoever you search, he is in it, and then nothing is hidden from the will: thus you see in his light, and are his.

62. And let no fear terrify you, there is nothing can take it away but your own imagination; let not that enter into your will, and so you shall work the wonders of God in his spirit, and acknowledge me your brother in him, else I shall be but as one that is dumb to you: This I tell you for good will.

* "that you seek not with such eagerness" (dass ihr es nicht also schwer sucht). The word "schwer," here translated "with eagerness," is much better rendered in the next par. "laborious ... in reason." Comp. par. 53 (Schwerigkeil), "the harshness." St Martin renders this "opinidtrete," "self-opinionated persistency."

f "for a rule" (Richtschnur), "a, rule of conduct," lit., a plumb line; the meaning implied is that of the perpendicular straight line. Comp. "the stroke in the line of God," par. 194.